Geronimo Cardano, a multi-talented intellectual of the 16th century, is remembered by mathematicians for his method of solving third degree equations. Much better known, however, is a more tangible invention of Cardano: the cardanic suspension named after him also known as a gimbal. Originally designed for keeping a ship's compass horizontal independent of it's motion, cardanic joints and cardanic shafts now find use in countless other applications.

Cardanic suspensions have two crossed axis. Both hinged rings can move in different directions, the combination allows an object suspended on such a cardanic joint to be pointed in any direction.
ERCO makes use of cardanic suspension in a product range of recessed spotlights. Recessed spotlights can be used as downlights to illuminate horizontal surfaces, but they can also be tilted to light vertical surfaces. They can also be used for accent or display lighting of randomly placed objects. Since the cardanic suspension of Gimbal recessed spotlights is positioned at ceiling level, the beam direction can be angled in any direction up to 40° from the vertical. This allows the beam to be aimed at almost any area of the room, to provide the intended accent lighting.